Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Dear Fellow Learners

This is a speech that I gave at a private school's graduation ceremony. I wrote it in the form of a letter because I was afraid I would not be able to be there due to my health. Fortunately I was able to be there.

Dear Fellow Learners,

I believe in learning, and in taking on challenges. Whether you succeed or not is not the point. It is the attempt that matters, and what you learn from the attempt. My current challenge is making it through 18 cycles of chemotherapy. I am currently on cycle 16. Chemotherapy is very icky medicine that gets worse every time I take it, and I am tempted to give up, but I always go on, partially as an example. I may not actually make it, but I will have tried.

I encourage all of you to try taking on the challenges in your lives. How can you know what you are capable of unless you try? Reach for the stars, and while you probably won't get there, I bet you'll get further than you expect. I also ask you to encourage others to do the same, whether it be friends, family, or even teachers!